**UK to Recognize Palestinian State, Israel Condemns Move**
The United Kingdom has announced its intention to recognize a Palestinian state by September. This decision has been met with strong condemnation from the Israeli government and families of hostages held in Gaza.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, accused British counterpart Keir Starmer of appeasing Hamas by making recognition conditional on Israel meeting certain conditions. These include agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza, allowing aid into the territory, and committing to a sustainable peace.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which represents many of the hostages’ families, criticized both the UK and French initiatives. A statement warned that recognizing an independent Palestinian state while 50 hostages are still trapped in Hamas tunnels is tantamount to rewarding terrorism.
However, not everyone agrees with this view. Yehuda Coudna, father of one of the remaining hostages, believes that recognizing a Palestinian State creates pressure on those responsible for delaying the return of hostages, namely Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to let Qatar provide aid under Hamas’s rule.
UK Transport Minister Heidi Alexander denied that the move was rewarding Hamas, saying it was about the Palestinian people. She stated that the UK expected Hamas “to act in the same manner as we expect Israel”.
The announcement by Starmer is a significant shift in British foreign policy and comes after France announced its intention to recognize a Palestinian state last week. The French Foreign Minister described this move as ending the war in Gaza.
Palestinian leaders welcomed the UK’s decision, calling it “a courageous step that puts the UK on the correct side of history”. The Palestinian Authority values the UK position and support for enabling the State of Palestine to exercise its authority over all Palestinian territories occupied since 1967.
However, not everyone is pleased with this development. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the move, saying it is “a prize for Hamas” and that it ignores the terrorist organization’s atrocities.
In response to criticism, Alexander emphasized that it’s about the Palestinians, especially those living in Gaza who are starving to death. She stated that increasing pressure on the Israeli government is needed to get aid into Gaza.
The international community has welcomed this move, with 17 countries signing a declaration outlining steps to implement the two-state solution after a UN conference in New York. The declaration calls for an end to the war in Gaza and for Hamas to release all its hostages and disarm.
**Key Points:**
* UK to recognize Palestinian state by September
* Israeli government condemns move, saying it’s “a prize for Hamas”
* Families of hostages held in Gaza also criticize the decision
* Palestinian leaders welcome UK’s decision as a courageous step
* International community welcomes declaration outlining steps to implement two-state solution
